Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-01-22
AN UNMARRIED WIDOW Err.
BY JOHN FRANKLIN.

!
81 thought he was stu in Europe"
replied, looking up at the aforementioned
box.
"No," said Evans, she got back weel
before last. Just see how he is flirting
with Miss DeKay."
"Why shouldn't he she's q great
match"
"His wife hasn't been dead a year, y
replied my friend.
"His wifef' echoed, 81 didn't know
he had ever been married"
eYou never heard OF that college affair
of his, thtn?"
'sNo; he was only sophomore when
I graduated"
"Well, you must come up to my rooms
after the opera, and I'll tell you all about
it; is rich assure you"
We went to Evans rooms, and he told
me of Swithin's love affair.
sit was in Swithin's senior year."
Evans began, 'that the thing happened.
You remember old Balch, don't you, pro-
lessor of electricity and magnetism? l
don't believe any Of us ever saw the in
side OF bis house up to the middle OF our
senior year. About that time niece OF
his came on from Baltimore to visit him.
She was not in very good health, it was
said, and thought the change OF air
would do her good.
"One day Old Electricity, astonished
us by inviting the whole class up to his
house on certain evening. The invitation
was thing unprecedented in the annals
of the college, and every body went.
Not the least among the attractions
that drew us there was the professors
niece, who was said to be sumner.
"Well, we went, and old BRlch re-
ceivei us in his old fashioned, stately
wav. When we were all collected ia the
reception loom. he excused himself for
a moment, and came back with hie niece
on his arm. A more beautiful creature
I never saw. From her delicately arched
little foot to her shapely head, she was
absolute perfection. She had the bright
est brown eyes, whitest teeth, and most
perfect form that ever girl was blest
with.
"Don't think, old fellow, that was in
love with her. / never,i n looking at her,
experienced any o'hsr feeling than pleas
ure at her artistic perfection. But
Swithins, poor fellow, was struck all in
a heap. He came very near losing his de-
gree by neglecting bis studies. Half of
the time was with the professors niece,
and the other half he was thinking,
writing, or dreaming about her.
"There was just one drawback to
Swithin's complete happiness. The
young lady was an invalid, and always
received and dismissed him while lean
ing on her uncle's arm. It seemed to
Swithin, too, that at those times, her
eyes were brighter, her cheeks redder,
and her whole manner more animated
than at any other time during his visits.
But perhaps he only imagined this, be-
cause at those particular times he would
have mnch preferred to see the lady
quite alone.
"However, things progressed smooth
ly enough, and the wedding day was set
for the evening of commencement day.
Swithin was ON the commencement pro-
gramme, and had laid himself out to be
particularly brilliant, for she had prom
ised to be at the exercises with her uncle.
But she had headache that morning,
and wishing to appear we'll in the more
important event of the evening, she did
rot attend. Swithin was very much dis
appointed and forgot his part several
times. You remember what an absent
minded man Professor Balch was? Well |
he forgot all about commencement, and
bis chair was vacant throughout the
exercises.
'sFinally the eventful hour that Swith- |
In had been 80 impatiently looking for
ward to arrived. Nearly all the old college
the wedding, for the bride
groom was very popular. At the last
minute old Ralch couldn't be found, and
almost an hour was wasted in hunting |
him up. And, where do you suppose
be was finally discovered? In the cleo
trical laboratory, busy with his jars and
wires. When he was told that the guests
were assembled and that he was delay
ing the ceremony, he looked sort of sur
orised, he seemed to have forgotten the
whole thing. Then to the smazement
IF every one he broke out in loud GUT
aw and set off rapidly for the house.
"Before he came the bride looked pale
md wearied out, but when he took her
lrm to lead her to the marriage altar
he somewhat recovered her strength
md vivacity.
"Slowly the professor led her, followed
" her bridesmaids, to where the white
ravated minister stood ready to speak
he fateful words, and with all his &C
dignity he gave the bride
way. The bridesmaids shivered little
nd suspiciously wiped the corners of
heir eyes.
"Ths g,inister pronounced the oere-
nony in'solemn tones. When he came
o the passage, DO you take this man.
to-, there was pause. The bridesmaids
lmost cried outright. The bride shivered